Improvement in methods of dressing flour



2 Sheets--Sih'ee 2,.

BENJAMIN BARTER. Improve nt in Method of Dressing Flour.

y v N0, 125,518, PatenfedApri|9,1872.

I PATENT OFFICE'.

BENJAMIN BAETEE, 0E EAEIEAULT, MINNESOTA.

IMPROVEMENT IN METI-Ions oF DRESSING FLouR.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 125,518, dated April 9, 1872.

y SPECIFICATION. To aZZ'w/aom t may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN BAETER, of Faribault, Rice county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Dressing Flour; and I do hereby4 declare 'that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making part ofthis specification and to the letters-of reference' marked thereon,'like letters indicating like parts wherever they occur.

My invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of certain novel devices in one machine, by which the flour, middlings, and offal are separated and entirely freed from dust, and delivered into separate bins or chests by one continuous operation.

In the drawing, Figure l is a cross-vertical section on the line z z of Fig. 3, with a portion broken away. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofa modication of a part detached. Fig. 3 is a crossvertical section on the line m .fr of Fig. l, and Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line y y of Fig. l.

ln constructing this machine, a strong rectangular frame, A, with a smaller frame, B, extending above and across one end of it, is made as shown in Fig. 1. These frames are of any size desired. Upon one' end of the frame B is placed a hopper, C, into which the y vilour to be dressed is fed, and is providedwith four or more cross-partitions, not shown, and also, if desired, with a grooved feed-roller, a, and a feed-regulator, b. In the upper part of the frame B is arranged, in suitable 4ways or guides, a shaking bolter, D, with a projection, E, on its outer end, provided with a square opening through which passes a shaft, c, having rigidly attached to it, so as to be eccentric with it, a cam, d, so that when motion is imparted to the shaft by the mechanism of the machine, a reciprocating motion will be given to the shaker D. This shaker is divided into sections by longitudinal partitions F, as shown in Fig. 1, equal in number to those in the feedhopper; and its bottom, -between these partitions, is made of wire or silk cloth, of six or 'more differentdegrees of 'nenessJ-that is,

each space is divided into six parts, and the part or portion nearest the hopper is provided withth'e nest cloth, the next with the next coarser, and so on to the en d, so that theflour coming from the feed-hopper will be separated by them. Underneath this shaker D, a frame, G, provided with brushes, H, is also arranged in guides or Ways so that the brushes will bear against its under side, and it is also so conn nected with the driving mechanism that a reciprocating motion may be imparted to it, but in such a manner as to be always moving in a direction contrary to that of the shaker. This motion may be given to it by means of a crankshaft, e, or by means of a wheel, chain, and weight, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The ac tion of the brushes H is to aid in bolting the iiour through the shaker. Below the brushes is an inclined partition, I, leading to a series of hoppers, J, equal in number to the different kinds of wire or silk cloth on the bottom of the shaker D, and so arranged as to receive, as near as may be, the different grades of fineness of flour bolted by the diiferent kinds of cloth, as shown in Figs. l and 3.

In the body of the frame A a second shaker, K, is arranged, at right angles with the upper one, D, with a frame, L, provided with a series of brushes, M, underneath. Both run in guides or ways, and are operated similar to the upper shaker and brushes, by means of the driving mechanism of the machinethat is, the shaker may be driven by an eccentric cam, f, revolving in a square opening in aprojection, N, of its frame, and the brushes by means of a crank-shaft, O, or by a rod, P, connected to one of the gear-wheels, as shown in Fig. l. The shaker Kis divided into sections by longitudinal partitions Q, so as to make as many sections as there are hoppers J, and so that each hopper will feed into one of the sections. The bottoms of the sections `are made of wire or silk cloth, of the same texture throughout each, but of a different texture or degree of fineness in the differen-t sections, the finest being opposite the hopper receiving the inest flour from the upper shaker, and the next coarser opposite the hopper receiving the next coarser flour, and so on. There may ,I v u be partitions g extending up the incline I from the hoppers J, and also a feed-roller, h, between the hoppers and the shaker K, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

In the lower part of the frame A are a couple of conveyers, R and S, with a pivoted partition, T, between them, so arranged that it may be adjusted as desired, by means of cordsi through the sides of the body of the machine, as shown in Fig. 3. These sides are inclined so that the iiour passing through the shaker will be directed to the conveyers, and the partition is made adjustable, so as to separate the liour as desired. The conveyers R and S are operated by belts and gear-wheels F' and D', connected with the driving mechanism, as shown.

This machine, it will be seen, bolts and separates the flour into dii'erent grades; but for the purpose of more thoroughly clearing or freeing it from dust and other impurities at the same time, a continuous current of air is caused to pass through the machine, and in such a manner that it may be regulated by the operator in passing through the sections of the lower shaker, if desired.

On the upper side of the frame A is placed a suction air-fan, U,'which communicates with a reetan gular longitudinal box, W, placed upon the frame A at right angles with the lower shaker. This box has a series of openings into the body of the machine, equal in number to the sections in the shaker, if desired, and each opening is provided with a slide, 7c, for regulating its size or elosin g the same, as shown in Figs. l and 4. Below this box, and within the machine, a cloth, V, is arranged over a balloon frame in a zigzag manner, as shown in Fig. 1. From this frame partitions extend to the upper side of the partitions in the shaker K, and so as to be in line with them; but so as to leave a sufcient space for a zinc cover, A', which is attached to the upper side of the shaker, and which is provided with longitudinal slots with curved edges, as shown in Fig. 4. This zinc cover A', instead of having longitudinal slots extending the whole length of each section of the shaker, may be provided with shorter ones, and have slides, Z, with slots therein of a corresponding size, so that the openings from the shaker may be adjusted as to size as desired, as shown iny Fig. 2. Openings B' and C', for the -admission of air, are placed in the end of the machine, the former being just below the brushes H, and similar opening are in its sides below the brushes M. Above the upper shaker D is an air-passage, D', leading down under the zigzag balloon cloth V, as shown in Fig. 1, and on the rear end of the machine there is a space with which the ends of the sections of the shaker K, as well as the ends of the partitioned space above therzinc cover A' communicate, which space at its lower end may be partitioned so as to separate the clean mid# dlings from the oials as they Ypass from the machine. f

The operation of this device for causing currents of air to pass through the machine when in operation, together with the effects of the same, will now be readily understood. When motion is given to the suction-fan U, which may be done by means of the belt m, communicating with the drivin g-wheel E', a current of air is drawn up through the upper shaker D, and passing along the air-passage D', carries with it all the dust and light materials rising from it, down under the zigzag cloth balloon 5 at the same time a current of air is drawn up through the lower shaker K. 'The two currents united are drawn up through the zigzag cloth balloon, then on through the box W, and then through the fan-case, from which, with all the dust it has gathered in its passage, t is blown out, as described.

It will be noticed that 'the upper shaker serves both to grade and bolt the flour, so that the different grades may be delivered to the different sections in the lower shaker. It is obvious that in place of the upper shaker an ordinary bolt for boltin g and grading the liour might be used; but a shaker constructed as described is preferred, as it produces better results.

I do not coniine myself to any specific mechanical devices for operating the different parts of my machine, but use such connections with the drivin g-wheel and its shaft as may be found most suitable.

By means of adjusting devices it is obvious that the brushes may be made'to bear uniformly against the bolting-cloths, so as to com pensate for any wear.

By this machine everything of value is pre served, the dust alone being carried off by the air-currents.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The method herein described oi" dressing flour, by means of an upper shaker provided with cloth of different degrees of neness arranged transversely for grading and bolting, and a lower shaker, divided into longitudinal sections, with cloth ot' the same fineuess in each section, but differing in iineness from each other, for receiving the di'erent grades of flour, in connection with a fan or its equi\ alent, for producing an air-current, as set forth.

2. In a flour-dressing machine, a shaker, K, divided into longitudinal sections, with cloth of the same iineness in each section, but differing invneness from. each other, for receiving and bolting different grades of flour, as herein described.

3. The combination of the shakers D andK with the brushes G, and M, constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the shaker K and ad- 6. In combination with Jche fm1 U and. shekjustable partition T, when constructed and arers D and K, the box W, provided with slideranged to operate substantially as and for the valves 7c therein, for the purpose of regulating purpose set forth. the aireurrents, as set forth.

5. The combination of the fan U, zigzag BENJAMIN BARTER. cloth V, zine cover A', and shakers D and H, Witnesses: when constructed and arranged to operate sub- SAML. L. BEAN, stantially as and for the purpose set forth. J. H. BANGS. 

